Maritime News

Australia bans unsafe PNG-flagged ship

9 June 2017

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned the Papua New Guinea-flagged cargo ship Kiunga Chief from entering or using Australian ports for three months. The ban was imposed in Brisbane after the ship was detained for a third time in less than 18 months due to safety failures. AMSA had issued Kiunga Chief with notices of 79 deficiencies between 14 August 2015 and 29 May 2017.

AMSA says that the deficiencies include failure to maintain the ship’s engines and fire extinguishing systems, inadequate food provisions, unsanitary living conditions (including defective toilets and water leakage into cabins), inadequate training for crew, and evidence that crew members worked more than 72 hours in seven days and were underpaid.

An AMSA spokesperson commented that: “the operator of Kiunga Chief has consistently failed to provide a safe workplace for crew or meet minimum applicable standards, and as such, this ship is unwelcome in Australian waters.”